Singlespeed

[mobius]

I have a trek 6700 that is apart right now because of parts being used for my giant AC1 I wanna make it a simple singlespeed with good vees for a simple trail bike and commuter. What do i need for it and i wanna keep it cheap I have square taper shimano crank arms can I use those with one ring or what?

Thanks

[wooglin]

On the chainring, yes, although you should find an unramped ring (harriscyclery.com has some cheap ones). Might also need BMX chainring bolts, although the ones that hold your granny on may also work.

On the rear, assuming you've got a gearie wheel on hand, take a couple of worn out cassettes apart and keep the spacers. Buy a Shimano DX or other BMX cog ($5ish) rather than using one of the ones off the cassette, and space it out with the spacers to get the correct chainline.

If you've got vertical dropouts, you may need a tensioner.

http://www.glue.umd.edu/~rdeleyos/ssfaq.html#how

[MTBDOC]

Make spacers out of gray PVC...works great!

AEBike.com has unramped rings at a good price ...they also have single chainring bolts (shorter bolt and nut) although you can make spacers...and in the last Nashbar sale sheet, they had some closeout synchros rings quite cheap.

If you need a tensioner (likely) I would STRONGLY recommend that you checkout the Soulcraft Convert. I've been using this since last year and is quiet, no drag, and just plain works! It is expensive, but well worth it. They use a downhill-type roller with cartridge bearings, as opposed to goofy little derailleur pulleys. I have started seeing SS'ers modify their Singulator to use the MRP roller.

SS'ing is AWESOME!

[SuspectDevice]

i hardly ever ride with gears anymore. I echo what Jack said (Hi MTBDOC, It's Mickey!), another thing to try is a gear length calculator (find one at sheldonbrown.com) you may be able to run ss by choosing the correct cog and ring to get your desired gear. it's IMO way cleaner than a tensioner

[mobius]

Do i need a special BB and crankset or can i just bolt the ring onto the outside or inside of my crankarm? Also, the rear do you guys mean just take the ring and use pvc to push it out and not get a special one that is attached to the hub (ie: surly hub). I'm kinda confused on what you guys say but kinda understanding.

[Tenchiro]

Read this

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html

EDIT -- I am in the process of converting my old Cannondal to singlespeed street usre. I am getting one of these, luckily I happen to have the crankset it fits. I am gonna order a $5 16t rear cog and try to use the ramped 32t chainring that came with the crankset. I just need to find a chain tensioner that I want to use. I also want to throw a pair of Maxis hookworms on and a XC riser bar. When I am done it should be a nice ultra lightweight ride.

http://pages.prodigy.net/peteran/img24.gif

[mobius]

Anyone know a tensioner that works good and isn't to expensive i wanna keep this a cheap project and gonna get a 32 ring,a 16 for back, a bashguard, and find a cassette someone has and tear it up and get a inexepensive tensioner and 8spd chain.

[Tenchiro]

Kore Chain Reactor is usually the best price at around $30

EDIT -- $13 at Pricepoint (http://www.pricepoint.com/product55.html)

[henrymiller]

The Kore Chain Reactor blows as a tensioner, just search the mtbr SS board. A singulator with a MRP roller seems to work well, nice and quite. You could even file the dropouts to get the correct tension. Have you tried an old rear derrailuer, they work just fine as a tensioner. On the higher end, an EBB conversion is the bee's knee's.

Please be carefull, SS is an addictive habit.

[BikeGeek]

Originally posted by mobius
Anyone know a tensioner that works good and isn't to expensive i wanna keep this a cheap project and gonna get a 32 ring,a 16 for back, a bashguard, and find a cassette someone has and tear it up and get a inexepensive tensioner and 8spd chain.

Got an old rear derailleur? Works like a charm as a tensioner. Run a piece of brake or derailleur cable through the barrel adjuster on the derailleur so that the metal cable end sits inside the adjuster. Fix the other end of the cable to the fixing bolt on the derailleur. Eye up your chainline, pull the cable tight, and tighten the fixing bolt. You can use the barrel adjuster for small side-to-side chainline adjustments.

[DamienC]

Originally posted by BikeGeek
Got an old rear derailleur? Works like a charm as a tensioner. Run a piece of brake or derailleur cable through the barrel adjuster on the derailleur so that the metal cable end sits inside the adjuster. Fix the other end of the cable to the fixing bolt on the derailleur. Eye up your chainline, pull the cable tight, and tighten the fixing bolt. You can use the barrel adjuster for small side-to-side chainline adjustments.

Yup, its pretty easy to set up a rear derailleur for this purpose. I was expecting this arrangement to chatter like crazy but so far its been relatively quiet. Two cassettes should give you enough spacers to convert your hub. I yanked the 18T cog from one of the cassettes I broke apart and so far so good (running 32:18 combo).

[mobius]

I broke my LX derailler i think it just needs a new bolt I could bend it back and use it prolly. How is 32:18 I was thinking 32:16 but don't wanna kill myself but also wanna be able to get some speed.

[DamienC]

Originally posted by mobius
How is 32:18 I was thinking 32:16 but don't wanna kill myself but also wanna be able to get some speed.

Well, you could find out for yourself. On your geared bike just put your chain on the middle ring and the 18T cog and ride it around without shifting :) .

[mobius]

Originally posted by DamienC
Well, you could find out for yourself. On your geared bike just put your chain on the middle ring and the 18T cog and ride it around without shifting :) .

If my AC1 had a chain or a derailler or a derailler hanger i would :(. Oh well I'm not singlespeeding anytime soon DH and FR gear comes first.

[LostBoyScout]

I use the Surly Singulator and love it (On my trials bike, mind you)

I highly recommend. The derailleur works, but is obviously very ugly, and takes away from the clean lines of a singlespeed, so I see that as a temporary fix.